System for indicating the position in space of an object



July 9, 1946. A. v. LOUGHREN SYSTEM FOR INDICATING THE POSITION. IN SPACE OF AN OBJECT Filed Nov. 28, 1941 Vl'Nvl-:NToR ARTHUR v. Loman-TREN WW ATT RNEY Frequency b. &

FIGB

Patented July 9, 1946 SYSTEM FOR INDICATING THE POSITION IN SPACE OF AN OBJECT Arthur V. Loughren, Great Neck, N. Y., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Hazeltine Research, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 28, 1941, Serial No. 420,772

(Cl. Z50-11) 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to systems for indicating the position in space of a radiated- 'signal reflector and, while the invention is of general application, it is of particular utility in systems for locating aircraft in flight.

It has been proposed in applicants copending application Serial No. 395,172, filed May 26, 1941, entitled System for space-scanning with a radiated beam of wave signals that the position of a radiated-signal reflector in space be determined by cyclically scanning with a sharply-concentrated radiated beam a predetermined space which includes the reflector, at a relatively high frequency in one direction and at a relatively low frequency in a direction normal to the one direction. Radiated carrier-signal energy is reflected from the reector, is received, and is used to modulate the intensity of the cathode-ray beam of a cathode-ray tube type of indicator. The cathode-ray beam of the tube is caused to scan the uorescent screen thereof in t'wo directions normal to each other in synchronism with the cyclic scanning of the space by the radiated beam. The position in space of the reilector is thus indicated by an illuminated spot produced Yon the screen of the cathode-ray tube. However, in such systems, the time required for the radiated carrier signal to travel from the point of radiation to the reiiector and back to the point of reception is a nite value which, at the high scanning frequencies employed, must be compensated for to avoid error in the position indication thus provided. There is, consequently, derived in the system of the aforementioned application a unidirectional potential of pulse wave form and of amplitude varying with the time interval required for the radiated carrier signal to travel to and from the reflector, and this derived potential is used to modify the high-frequency scanning of the cathode-ray tube. While the compensation thus .provided is entirely adequate over the central portion of the scanned area, it is somewhat limited in its accuracy around the outer portions of the scanned area due to the fact that a compensating potential pulse which actually should compensate during a given line-deflection of the cathode-ray beam may occur subsequent to the start of a new scanning line.V It is desirable, however, that the accuracy of the indications provided by a system of this type be f entirely independent of any time delays involved between the radiation and receptionof the radiated carrier signal.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved system for 55 indicating the position in space from a locating station of a radiated-signal reilector, such as an aircraft.

It i's a further object of the invention to provide a system for indicating the position in space of a radiated-signal reilector and one in which the time interval required for the radiated carrier signal to travel Vto the reflector and to return-to the point rof reception requires nocompensation y in eiecting the desiredv position indication.`

In accordance with the invention, a systemior locating a radiated-signal reector comprises an antennasystem having a radiation characteristic eiectively in the form of a sharply-concentrated beam, means for applying a carrier signal to the antenna system, and means .for varying the frequency of the carrier signal and fork scanning a predetermined space in at least-one direction with the beam synchronously with the frequency variation. The system also includes means for receiving carrier-signalenergy from the' radiated beam reflected from the reiiector, means responsive solely to the received carrier-signal energy for deriving therefrom a control signal a characteristic of which varies with the frequency of the received carrier-signal energy, and means responsive to the control signal and dependent upon the above-mentioned ,characteristic thereof for indicating the position in space of the reflector.

In a particular form of the invention, a system of the type described includes a cathode-ray tube and means responsive to the derived control signal for deflecting the cathode-ray beamjof the tube in one direction. 'There is also derived from the received carrier1 signal a second control pothe aforesaid one direction in synchronism with 7 cyclic scanning of the aforesaid predetermined space area by the sharply-concentrated beam in a direction normal to the first-mentioned direction of scanning, whereby there is provided an' indication in two dimensions of the position in space-of` the reflector. y

For a better understanding of the invention, to-` gether withv other and'fu'rther objects thereof,

reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing; andl it-s scope willbe pointed out in theY appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram, partly schematic, of a complete system for indicating the position in space of a radiated-signal reflector; and Figs. 2 and 3 comprise graphs which are used in explaining the operation of the arrangement of Fig. l.

Referring now :more particularly to Fig. l of the drawing, the system there represented cornprises a complete position-indicating system embodying the present invention in its preferred form. 'I'he system includes a transmitting station I!) for radiating a sharply-concentrated carrier-signal beam and for causing the beam cyclically to scan a predetermined .space area in two directions normal to each other. The system additionally includes a receiving station II for receiving carrier-signal energy from the radiated beam reflected from a radiated-signal reflector I2, for example, an aircraft.

The transmitting station I0 is described in detail in applicants copending application referred to above. Briefly, for purposes of the `preseni-,Idescription, the transmitting station Iil includes `an antenna system :I3 comprising a, plurality .of signal radiators shown as dipoles Di-Dis, inclusive, .geometrically spaced in two dimensions and including means for electrically spacing them in one of the two dimensions. Specifically, the conductors of the dipoles are all disposed in the same horizontal plane and are parallel to each other. Dipoles D1--D4, inclusive, are spaced in a .first dimension in Aa longitudinal array, while the sets of dipoles D5-Da, inclusive, Dia-D12, inclusive, and D13-D16, inclusive, .are similarly spaced in Yother longitudinal arrays and are arranged, in

the order named, to one side of the set of dipoles Di-Dr, inclusive, to form an arrangement of dipole sets, each set including an array of four dipole .antennas and -the sets being spaced in a second dimension. The dipoles of each of the above-.mentioned sets of dipoles are energized in parallel except that the above-mentioned means for electrically spacing them in one of the two dimensions comprises delay networks F interposed between adjacent dipoles. cal spacing of the .dipoles of .each set in the abovementioned one dimension is preferably made approximately one-half wave length of the mean or nominal frequency of the carrier signal to be applied to the system, while the electrical spacing due to .delay networks F is made to be in integral number .of wave lengths at the fnominal or mean frequency of the carrier signal. The sets of dipoles are also preferably spaced .in the dimension normal to the rst dimension, or `in the abovementioned second dimension, by a distance approximately equal to one-half the wave length of the mean or nominal frequency of the carrier signal to be applied to the system.

The transmitting station I0 also includes a source of high-frequency carrier signals comprising a high-frequency oscillator I4 and means for individually applying carrier signals from the oscillator I 4 to the signal radiators Di-Die, inclusive, for directive radiation effectively in the form of a, sharply-concentrated beam, this means comprising a phase shifter I5 for coupling the oscillator Ill through individual phase-shifting networks` to the dipole sets .D1-D4, inclusive, D5--Ds, inclusive, etc. There is also included means for cyclically varying the frequency of the carrier signal of the oscillator It to scan a predeterminati space in one direction with the sharply-concentrated carrier-signal beam comprising a line-scanning generator I6 which is The geometriadapted to be synchronized from a timer I1, the output circuit of the line-scanning generator I6 being coupled to the high-frequency oscillator I4 to vary the output frequency of unit I4 over a predetermined range of frequency deviation in accordance with the wave form of th'e signal developed by the line-frequency scanning generator I5, in any conventional manner. The Atransmitting station I0 additionally includes means for cy- -.clically varying the relative phases of the carrier signals as applied to the signal radiators which are spaced in the above-mentioned second dimension at a second predetermined frequency, lower than the line-scanning frequency, to scan the aforementioned predetermined space area in a direction normal to the first-named direction with the .carrier-.signal beam. This means comprises a field-frequency scanning generator I8, also adapted to be synchronized by the timer I'I and having an output circuit which is coupled to the individual phase-shifting networks of the phase shifter I5 in the manner more fully explained in the aforementioned copending application.

In order to suppress radiation downward from the plane including the conductors of vdipoles Di-Dis, inclusive, a reflecting conductor, .not shown, is disposed below each of the dipoles, thus to increase the useful energy .in the desired direction of radiation and minimize minor spurious beams.

The carrier-signal receiver IVI includes aradiofrequency amplifier and modulator I9 having an input circuit coupled to a substantially nondirectional antenna system provided by two dipole antennas 25, 2|, antenna 20 preferably being parallel to the dipoles of the antenna system I3 of the transmitting station `and the dipole antenna 20 being at right angles to the dipole 2| to provide a response to reflected carrier .signals having a polarization 90 degrees displaced .from that radiated by the antenna lf3.

The modulator of unit I9 has an input circuit'I coupled to an oscillation generator 22, for converting 4received carrier signals to intermediatefrequency carrier signals, and has an `output cir cuit to which is coupled, in the order named, an intermediate-frequency amplifier 23 of one or more stages, a limiting system 24 a frequency detector 25, a direct-current amplifier 26 of one or more stages, and a .rst set `of deiiectin-g electrodes 21 provided in a cathode-ray tube 28. Also coupled to the output of the limiting system 24 is an amplitude detector and amplifier 29, the output circuit of which is coupled through a source of biasing potential 30 to a control electrode SI and cathode 32 provided in the cathoderay tube 28. The biasing source 3i) biases the cathode-ray tube 28 to cutoi in the absence of a received carrier signal. The cathode-ray tube 28 also includes a second set of deecting electrodes `33 arranged at right angles to the deflecting electrodes 27 and coupled to an output circuit of the field-scanning generator I8 of the transmitting station l0.

Considering now `the operation of the system just described, and referring to `the curves of Figs. 2 and 3, the detailed operation of the transmitting station IB is described `in the aforementioned copending application. Its operation, briefly stated in sufficient detail for purposes of the present description of the operation of the system, is as follows: The line-frequency scanning generator I6 and field-frequency scanning generator I8 generate control signals preferably of saw-tooth wave forms. The control signal of unit I6 frequency-modulates the carrier-signal generated by the high-frequency oscillator I4, whereby the frequency of the latter deviates linearly with time between a lower frequency fr and a higher frequency f2, as represented by curve A of Fig. 3a. The control signal of unit I8 varies linearly with time the relative phases of the carrier signals applied to the sets of dipoles D1-D4, inclusive, D5-Ds, inclusive, etc., the frequency of this control signal being preferably much lower than that generated by unit I6. There is thus radiated by the antenna system I3 a sharply-concentrated carrier-signal beam, represented by curve B, Fig. 2, which cyclically sweeps across the scanned space area at a substantially constant angular velocity from a low angle of radiation 0, corresponding to the frequency ,f1 of unit I4, to a high angle of radiation 01, corresponding to the mean or nominal frequency of the carrier signal of unit I 4, and continuing on to a low angle of radiation 02, corresponding to the higher frequency f2 of the carrier signal of unit I4. Each value of frequency of the carrier signal of unit I4 thus corresponds to an individual angle of radiation of the sharply-concentrated carriersignal beam. The beam is simultaneously caused to scan the scanned space area at a constant angular velocity but at a lower cyclic frequency and in a direction normal to that described in connection with Fig. 2; that is, in the aforementioned second dimension. This is effected by the action of the field-frequency scanning generator I8 in controlling through the phase shifter I 5 the relative phases of the carrier signals applied to the sets of dipoles Di-D4, inclusive, Ds-Da, inclusive, etc. The angle of radiation in the second dimension thus varies with the values of the control signal of unit i8.

Assume now that the carrier-signal beam is radiated at a given instant at an angle 0f radiation as represented by curve B, Fig. 2, which angle corresponds to a frequency f3 of the carrier signal generated by uni-t I4, and that after being radiated it travels to the radiated-signal reflector I2 and is reflected back to the receiving station II. The reflected carrier wave is received and amplified by the radio-frequency amplifier of unit I9 and is converted to an intermediatefrequency carrier wave by the oscillation Vgenerator 22 and modulator of unit I9. The intermediate-frequency carrier signal developed in the output circuit of the modulator of unit I9 is amplied by the intermediate-frequency amplifier 23, is limited to a predetermined substantially constant amplitude by the limiting system 24 and applied to the frequency detector 25. The frequency-response characteristic of uni-t 25 is represented by curve C, Fig, 3b, and hence there is developed in the output of unit 25 a unidirectional potential or control signal having an amplitude e3. rThis potential is amplified by the direct-current amplifier 23 and applied -to the deecting electrodes 21 of the cathode-ray tube 23.

The amplitude-limited intermediate-frequency carrier signal developed in the output circuit of the limiting system 24 is also applied to the amplitude detector of unit 29 to derive a second control signal which is amplied by the amplier of unit 29 and applied between the control electrode 3| and cathode 32 of tube 28, the control signal being applied with polarity opposite to that of the biasing source 30 thus to bias tube 28 abovev cutoff and permitting a cathode-ray beam to be formed and directed toward the uorescentscreen deecting electrodes 33 of vacuum tube 28, Whereby there is applied to these electrodes a potential which varies in synchronism with the angleI of radiation of the sharply-concentrated Vcarriersignal beam in the aforementioned second dimension, that is, in a direction transverse to the direction of alignment of the dipoles D1-D4, inclusive, of the' antenna system I 3. I

Consequently, the'cathode-ray beam developed in the cathode-r-ay tube 28 due to the application of the second-named control signal between the electrodes 3|, 32 thereof travels between the electrodes 33 and is deflected in one direction in accordance with the instantaneous-potential 'applied to these electrodes, which potential, as previously pointed out, varies with the angle of radi'- ation of the carrier-signal beam B in the Asecond dimension. The cathode-ray beam continues through the deflecting electrodes 2'I Aand is again deflected in a direction, normal to the direction of its rst deflection, dueto the instantaneous potential e3 applied toV the latter deflecting elec'- trodes,'the value of this potential corresponding to the angle of radiationv t which the carriersignal beam B had 'when it started its travel toward the reflector I2. The cathode-ray beam thus strikes the fluorescent screen of tube 28;at a point which indicates in'two dimensions the position of the' reflector' I2 with respect to the location of the receiving station I I. l

It may benoted at this point that the angle of radiation of the sharply-concentrated carriersignal beam from the antenna system I3 may have'changed to a new value 2, as represented by broken-line curve E, in the rst dimension at the time the reec'ted carrier signal is received at the antenna system 20, 2| of the receiving station I I. This is due to the relatively rapidlt7 changing angles of radiation of the beam in the first dimension by virtue of the relatively high line-scanning frequency employed and the time required for the radiated beam B to travel to the ector I2 and back to the antenna system 20,

In the aforementioned copending application, the deflecting electrodes 21 of the cathode-ray tube 28 are energized by the control signal developed in the output circuit of unit I6, rather ,than from the output of the direct-current am plifler Y26 of the present invention, and it is thus necessary in that arrangement to introduce in circuit with the deilecting electrodes 21 a compensatig potential the magnitude of which varies with the time required for the radiated carrier signal to travel tothe reflector I2 and to return to the receiving station II. Such compensating potential is apt to introduce spurious indications near the outer edges of the scanned space area due to the initiation of a new scanning line on the cathode-ray tube 28 `prior to the time when the reflected carrier signal is received by the receiving station I I. l

y The present invention" avoids the necessity 'for such compensating potentials andthe spurious indications consequent upon their use. This rsults from the fact that the deflections of the 'cathode-ray beam of tube 28 vary only in accordance with the rst control 4signal'applied to the deflecting electrodes 2 and the second control applied to the deflecting electrodes 33.' The latter control signal varies in synchronism with the changing angles of radiation of the carrier-signal beam from antenna I3 in the second dimension and, since the change in the angle of radiation in this dimension is relatively slow, the time delay of transmission of the carrier signal to the reflector I2 and back to the receiving station II is of no importance. The rst control potential, applied to the deflecting electrodes 2l, varies in amplitude only with the frequency of the received carrier signal and, since each frequency of the received carrier signal corresponds to a particular angle of radiation of the carrier-signal beam from the antenna system I3 in the rst dimension, the deflection of the cathode-ray beam by the deecting electrodes 21 varies directly with the angle at which the carrier-signal beam was radiated from the antenna I3 to the reector I2. Thus, if the refiection of the carrier signal occurs near an outer edge of the scanned space area, as at an angle of radiation corresponding to the frequency ,f1 of the carrier signal of unit I4, the control signal applied to the deecting electrodes 21 of tube 2S has a value, for example, the value e1, corresponding only to this angle of radiation. Similarly, if reflection of the carrier signal occurs at the opposite edge of the scanned space area, as at an angle of radiation 02 corresponding to the frequency f2 of the carrier signal of unit I4, the control signal applied to the deilecting electrodes 21, of tube 28 again has a value, for example, the value e2, individual to the latter angle of radiation. Consequently, the indications provided by the cathode-ray tube 2B of the position in space of the rei-lector I2 are free from any ambiguity over al1 portions of the scanned space area.

From the above described operation of the invention, it will be evident that the antenna system Z, 2! and the units I9 and 22 to 26, inclusivey of the receiving station II comprise means for receiving carrier-signal energy from the radiated beam of antenna I3 reflected from the reflector I2 and means responsive solely to the received carrier-signal energy for deriving therefrom a control signal a characteristic of which varies with the frequency of the received carriersignal energy. Further it will be evident that units 25 and 29 comprise means responsive solely to the received carrier-signal energy for deriving two control signals a characteristic of one of which, for example, that derived by unit 25, varies with the frequency of the received carriersignal energy, and a characteristic of the other of which, for example, that-derived by unit 29, varies with the amplitude of the received carriersignal energy. The cathode-ray tube 28 comprises means responsive to the two control signals derived by units 25 and 29 for indicating the position in space of the reflector i2.

The electrodes 3! and 32 of tube 28 comprise means responsive to the control signal derived by unit 29 for modulating the cathode-ray beam of the tube 28.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A system for locating a radiated-signal reflector comprising, an antenna system having a radiation characteristic effectively in the form of a sharply-concentrated beam, means for applying a carrier signal to said antenna system, means for varying the frequency of said carrier signal and for scanning a predetermined space in at least one direction with said beam synchronously with said frequency variation, means for receiving carrier-signal energy from said radiated beam reflected from said reflector, means responsive solely to said received carrier-signal energy for deriving therefrom a control signal a characteristic of which varies with the frequency of said received carrier-signal energy, and means responsive to said control signal and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for indicating the position in space of said reiiector.

2. A system for locating a radiated-signal reflector comprising, an antenna system having a radiation characteristic eiectively in the form of a sharply-concentrated beam, means for applying a carrier signal to said antenna system, means for varying the frequency of said carrier signal and for scanning a predetermined space in at least one direction with said beam synchronously with said frequency variation, means for receiving carrier-signal energy from said radiated beam reected from said reflector, means responsive solely to said received carrier-signal energy for deriving therefrom a control signal the amplitude of which varies with the frequency of said received carrier-signal energy, and means responsive to said control signal and dependent upon the amplitude thereof for indicating the position in space of said reflector.

3. A system for locating a radiated-signal reiiector comprising, an antenna system having a radiation characteristic effectively in the form of a sharply-concentrated beam, means `for applying a carrier signal to said antenna system, means for varying the frequency of said carrier signal and for scanning a predetermined space in at least one direction with said beam synchronously with said frequency variation, means for receiving carrier-signal energy from said radiated beam refiected from said reflector, means for frequency-detecting said received carrier signal to derive a control signal a charactistic of which varies with the frequency of said received carrier signal, and means responsive to said control signal and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for indicating the position in space of said reector.

4. A system for locating a radiated-signal reflector comprising, an antenna system having a radiation characteristic effectively in the form of a sharply-concentrated beam, means for applying a carrier signal to said antenna system, means for varying the frequency of said carrier signal and for scanning a predetermined space in at least one direction with said beam synchronously With said frequency variation, means for receiving carrier-signal energy from said radiated beam reflected from said reflector, means responsive solely to said received carrier-signal energy for deriving two control signals a characteristic of one of which varies with the frequency of said received carrier-signal energy and a characteristic of the other of which varies with the amplitude of said received carrier-signal energy, and means responsive to said control signals and dependent upon the said characteristics thereof for indicating the position in space of said reiiector.

5. A system for locating a radiated-signal reiiector comprising, an antenna system having a radiation characteristic effectively in the form of a sharply-concentrated beam, means for applying a carrier signal to said antenna system, means for cyclically varying the frequency of said carrier signal and for scanning a predetermined space in at least one direction with said beam synchronously with said frequency variation, a cathode-ray tube, means for receiving carriersignal energy from said radiated beam reflected from said reflector, means responsive solely to said received carrier-signal energy for deriving a control signal a characteristic of which varies with the frequency of said received carriersignal energy, and means responsive to said control signal and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for deflecting the cathode-ray beam of said tube in one direction to indicate the position in space of said reilector.

6. A system for locating a radiated-signal reflector comprising, an antenna system having a radiation characteristic eiectively in the form of a sharply-concentrated beam, means for applying a carrier signal to said antenna system, means for cyclically varying the frequency of said carrier signal and for scanning a predetermined space in at least one direction with said beam synchronously with said frequency variation, means for receiving carrier-signal energy from said radiated beam reected from said reflector, means responsive solely to said received carrier-signal energy for deriving two control signals a characteristic of one o-f which varies with the frequency of said received carrier-signal energy and a characteristic of the other of which varies with the amplitude of said received carrier-signal energy, a cathode-ray tube, means responsive to said one control signal and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for deflecting the cathode-ray beam of said tube in one direction, and means responsive to said other control signal and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for modulating the cathode-ray beam of said tube, thereby to indicate the position in space of said reector.

'7. A system for locating a radiated-signal reflector comprising, an antenna system including a plurality of signal radiators geometrically spaced in two dimensions and means for electrically spacing said radiators in one of said two dimensions so that said antenna system is responsive to variations in applied carrier-signal frequency to cause a sharply-concentrated radiated beam to scan a predetermined space in one direction and responsive to variation of the relative phases of carrier signals appliedy to said radiators which are spaced in the other of said dimensions to scan said predetermined space with said beam in a direction normal to said rst scanning direction, a source of high-frequency carrier signals, means for individually applying carrier signals from said source to said signal l10 radiators, means for cyclically varying the frequency of the carrier signal of said source, means for cyclically Varying the relative phases of the carrier signals as applied to said radiatorswhich are spaced in the other of said dimensions, means for receiving carrier-signal venergy from said radiated beam reflected from said reector, means responsive solely to said received carrier-signal energy for deriving therefrom a control signal a characteristic of which varies with the frequency of said received carrier-signal energy, a cathoderay tube, means responsive to said control signal. Y and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for deflecting the cathode-ray beam of said tube in one direction, and means for deecting the cathode-ray beam of said tube in a direction normal to said one direction in synchronism with said cyclic variations of relative phase, thereby to indicate in two dimensions the position in space of saidV reector.

8. A` system for locating a radiated-signal refiector comprising, an antenna system including a plurality of signal radiators geometrically spaced in two dimensions and means for electrically spacing said radiators in one of said two dimensions so that said antenna systemV isresponsive to variations inapplied carrier-signal frequency to cause a sharply-concentrated radiated beam to scan a predetermined space in one direction and responsive to variation of the relative phases of carrier signals applied to said radiators which are spaced in the other of said dimensions to scan said predetermined space with said beam in a direction normal to said first scanning direction, a source of high-frequencyV carrier signals, means for individually applying carrier signals from said source to'said signal radiators, means for cyclically varying thefrequency of the carrier signal of said source, means for cyclically varying the relative phase of the carrier signals as applied to said radiators which are spaced in the other of said dimensions, means for receiving carrier-signal energy from said radiated beam reected from said reector, means responsive solely to said received carrier-signal energy for deriving two control signals a characteristic of Vone of vwhich varies with the frequency of said received carrier-signal energy and a characteristic oi' the other of which varies with f the amplitude of said received carrier-signal energy, acathode-ray tube, means responsive to said one control signal and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for deflecting the cathoderay beam of said tube in one direction, means for deflecting the cathode-ray beam of said tube in a direction normal to said one direction in synchronism with said cyclic relative phase variations, and means responsive to said other control signal and dependent upon the said characteristic thereof for modulating the cathode-ray beam of said tube, thereby to indicate in two dimensions the position in space of said reflector.

ARTHUR V. LOUGHREN. 

